Author Dan Brown stops to chat with Seacoast Sunday reporter Gina Carbone after he walks the red carpet at The Music Hall on Saturday evening at the Portsmouth premiere of “Angels & Demons.” Brown, an Exeter native who now lives in Rye Beach, invited more than 600 friends and family members to share the evening with him. Deb Cram photo

By Gina Carbone

gina_carbone@comcast.net

PORTSMOUTH — Dan Brown celebrated the film release of “Angels & Demons” with 632 friends and family— including Patriots owner Robert Kraft — Saturday night at The Music Hall in downtown Portsmouth.

He also celebrated with dozens of fans, calling out to them and shaking their hands between the arborvitae that led to six statues of angels and demons.

Brown, an Exeter native who now lives in Rye Beach, was the first to hit the red carpet just after 5:30 p.m.

“Exciting night,” Brown said. “This is terrific. Very, very excited to be here.”

Earlier this month at the film’s world premiere in Rome, Brown was joined by director Ron Howard, actor Tom Hanks and other luminaries from the film. This time, he kept it personal.